Sivarasa dropped as candidate due to health issues, says Anwar
Anwar Ibrahim was concerned that former Sungai Buloh MP R Sivarasa’s health issues would have an impact on Pakatan Harapan’s chances.
PETALING JAYA: Former Sungai Buloh MP R Sivarasa’s “health issues” had led to Anwar Ibrahim dropping him as a candidate in the coming polls.
Utusan Malaysia reported the opposition leader as saying that if the three-term MP campaigned while looking sickly, it could have an impact on Pakatan Harapan’s chances.
“And that was a factor I considered. Plus it also allows us to introduce a candidate who could beat (Barisan Nasional’s) Khairy Jamaluddin,” he was quoted as saying, referring to R Ramanan.
Earlier today, PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli said he had recommended that the party retain Sivarasa as its candidate for the parliamentary seat due to the latter’s track record.
Anwar, who had the final say, however, had a different view on the matter.
Sivarasa won the Sungai Buloh seat in the last general election in 2018 with a 26,634 vote majority against PAS’ Nuridah Salleh.
PETALING JAYA: Former Sungai Buloh MP R Sivarasa’s “health issues” had led to Anwar Ibrahim dropping him as a candidate in the coming polls.
Utusan Malaysia reported the opposition leader as saying that if the three-term MP campaigned while looking sickly, it could have an impact on Pakatan Harapan’s chances.
“And that was a factor I considered. Plus it also allows us to introduce a candidate who could beat (Barisan Nasional’s) Khairy Jamaluddin,” he was quoted as saying, referring to R Ramanan.
Earlier today, PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli said he had recommended that the party retain Sivarasa as its candidate for the parliamentary seat due to the latter’s track record.
Anwar, who had the final say, however, had a different view on the matter.
Sivarasa won the Sungai Buloh seat in the last general election in 2018 with a 26,634 vote majority against PAS’ Nuridah Salleh.
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kt comments:
Sivarasa also played a very significant role in the exposure of the Altantuyaa/PI Balasubramaniam saga
First, for Rafizi to undercut Anwar by claiming Sivarasa was recommended by his committee to stand for election but that Anwar as President had the final say and that it was Anwar who crossed out Sivarasa is unfortunately the bane of Malaysian politics and of Malaysia too.
ReplyDeleteAny disagreement, especially between the top two of a party should have been resolved behind doors. In this instance, it is very plain that Rafizi is trying to point fingers at Anwar.
And frankly, Anwar's reason for cutting Sivarasa out is, to put it mildly, rather weak.
It would be very laughable (as with the Loke and Gobind vis-a-vis Santiago case) if Sivarasa comes out to say he feels fit and healthy to stand for re-election.
Just as the Santiago case reflects poorly on DAP, this Sivarasa case reflects poorly on PKR too.